Rhiannon McGavin - "Art Class" Rhiannon McGavin

[@chiaraesposito9726]

"I can't draw a straight line anymore but thats okay because her hair is naturally curly" this is so beautiful.

[@laagan4366]

Chiara Esposito omg this is why i watch it everytime

[@rebeccaariola455]

The one thing i loved most about this entire poem is all of the support she recieved from the audience. By the end of the poem she was calm and that is because of all the "come on"'s, the audience shouted for her. Plus the comment at the beginning, "come on, poet, remember why you wrote it." Beautiful.

[@artemis4935]

her voice sounds so on the edge of crying it's besutiful

[@masonkemper1793]

She starts off so soft and innocent sounding, almost childlike. And as she progresses you can hear the maturity and pain. And lord I just can't get over it. Gives me chills every time.

[@Yellowducky665]

"I can't draw a straight line anymore but that's okay" omg omg

[@MrFrozenUndies2000]

'I would give blood to my brush for her to blush at me in that shade' fuckk

[@lissylyrics1987]

[@SweetRubes]

I never thought that someone could speak the thoughts that echo in my brain but here it is... "You're not supposed to look at your friends like that" that sentence hit me hard; and so did this whole poem

[@bowlingally]

+SweetRubes The other one that hit just as hard for me of not harder was "When you watch your best friends dance with boys who will never be you" This whole poem was hard hitting and beautiful

[@leynalouise5329]

this whole poem made me cry. it's echoing my thoughts.

[@gwenrees7594]

SweetRubes that line is so hard hitting xx

[@then.e.r.d3049]

Same

[@EpsilonA789]

She is the poet I aspire to be

[@sophieschmidt221]

In my kindergarten art class, sunlight dripped through fingerpaint-covered windows. I learnt the primaries: red, blue, yellow. I could make the whole rainbow out of three colours. I was older when I started telling myself that I only looked at the female anatomical models for reference. I had so much experience dressing quickly and keeping my eyes on the ground in the locker room, but this girl made me understand why they say “pretty as a painting”. You can’t touch museum art. We have the same lotion. It smells better on her, it makes me think of cookies and old Paris cafés where the great painters had lunch. The colour palette I bring from home is so dark, but she makes me lean towards romantiscism. I can’t draw a straight line anymore but it’s okay; her hair is naturally curly. A boy called her weird yesterday, and I wanted to tell her that I have spent hours practicing shading to recreate the light in her eyes, but that would make it obvious I’d been staring. You’re not supposed to look at your friends like that. Our teacher says the colourmaker Diesbach tried to make a perfect red and created ultramarine. In a time when ultramarine paint was worth more than gold he added animal blood to his flask and out burst blue, worth more than gold! I wanted vermilion like Romeo, ruby as sunset, flash lipstick, scarlet forget-me-not kisses, I would give blood to my brush for her to blush at me in that shade I would take cobalt as a new sky, azure as cornflower, schoolgirl skirt navy hiding held hands or even yellow sunflower petals. Dutch painters whispering “she loves me… she loves me… she loves me…” Our teacher didn’t tell us that the creation of prussian blue led to the isolation of cyanide. I can’t breathe without [???] the poison, it’s apple seeds and seeping through junior-high gym floorboards when you watch your best friend dance with boys who will never be you! I always liked friendship bracelets more than promise rings. My middle-school diaries are filled with girls, like a pick-pocket sketching the Hope Diamond. I’d be lining my [???] with stolen glances. I don’t have a partner in crime to keep me warm. I know the signs. The teacher’s assistant, a nice junior who comes to school with cherry eyes every time her lab partner gets a new boyfriend. Throw over your men! My history professor and her roommate of 15 years. I say someone in another time will remember us. I want to be five years old mixing all the colours until i get the drark brown of her Monet shoulder freckles, and you give a Valentine to everyone in class.

[@horsecrazy2266]

I think it's lining my coat

[@horsecrazy2266]

***** Sometimes people would like the words (to look at or if they speak another language)

[@horsecrazy2266]

***** I think someone else wrote it down :). I was just answering for why a lot of people like it

[@horsecrazy2266]

***** It's okay :) hI! lOvE yOu anyway

[@andrequeijeiraa920]

Sophie Schmidt

[@jilianjilianson7193]

This is so comforting, it's exactly what being gay in high school and having a crush on a friend is like. Favourite poem

[@sophiereadstoomuch]

this is honestly my favourite of all rhiannon's poems. suddenly I'm starting to see colours that I didn't know existed.

[@its_sigh9545]

Freshman year of high school, I fell in love with a girl who considered me her best friend. Her boyfriend liked me, he thought I was funny. She is an artist. She paints all the time. She has natural curly hair. No words can explain how hard this poem hit me.

[@duravis0065]

I was only nine when I started seeing girls differently, and one in particular. I remember her, naturally curly hair.

[@alwaysaugust4436]

This is the one slam poem that can really get to me no matter how many times I hear it. "I can't draw a straight line anymore but that's okay, her hair is naturally curly."

[@BriWhite0]

Her poems always give me chills omgg

[@garfieldlemanski1731]

I always thought poetry was for people who thought deeply into things and could right amazing poems I cannot write poems at all (not that I know of) Listening to her and the others like in "Somewhere in America" I actually started to cry and realized my love for poetry I listened to others and I cannot satisfy my thirst for true poetry at its finest The amount of thought that must go into every word is amazing I'd love to be able to write such a powerful poem that it brings people to tears

[@professionalcoffeeaddict4229]

Same

[@kaitlynruiz2879]

I can agree so much to that. I never relived how much I loved poetry until I listened to these.

[@sparkytheterabithian7526]

You know what, that is such a great speech.

[@oliviapodraza2597]

try. don’t make it perfect just feel it when you say it and it is already on its way to being poetry

[@artoriastheabysswalker3206]

I absolutely adore this poem. I love how she's so nervous at the beginning, it really feels like she's in love with whoever this poem is about. Even if her nervousness is really just stage fright, I think she's behaving exactly like I do when I'm in love and I really like her performance. Thanks Rhiannon

[@WillowJaie]

She's actually crying at the beginning

[@ManicureSlick]

"I say someone in another time will remember us" - Sappho. I've listened to this poem so many times for so many years and it just hit me. You're a genius, Rhiannon

[@just.dee555]

“remember your purpose, poet. remember why you wrote it” 😩💓

[@hileman8600]

this poem finds me every couple years. its one of the ones i remember the most. how i have changed so much, yet her words stay the same. but the meaning and how they hit me change. i hope she has found beautiful love.

[@Aria26-f2b]

Damn if only this girl knew. She truly loved and love till it hurt. I personally don’t believe when people say they love me or are in love with me but if they ever wrote me something like this I would cry and believe it. I envie the girl she wrote this for ❤️

[@kstorey94]

I related to this so immensely that I couldn't help but cry.....for hours.

[@theresafrancis451]

Remember your purpose poet, remember why you wrote it.I love how crowds in these competitions are so kind and encouraging.

[@PhantomPhreafication]

I didn't think I'd find anyone who understood so well, but here it is, spoken in colors that I see every day, a feeling of connection as I cry while I listen to your voice tip towards tears.

[@helluvo]

i come back to this poem always

[@lillianhatch2035]

Whenever I hear one of her poems I just get chills, she is amazing

[@oliviatuel2354]

I promised myself I wouldn't cry

[@TheStrangelyLiteral]

The more I watch this, the more it takes my breath away and leaves my guts in all kinds of knots. Needless to say, I can relate.

[@MediumGhettoMachiavellian]

Amazing Rhiannon one of my favorite pieces by you so far

[@PolesitterPictures]

This was wonderfully raw, and I know exactly what that's like, Rhiannon, because that all happened to me, too. I know I'm not alone, but it's always nice to have a reminder. Thank you. It means a lot. :)

[@bearfamous_]

I realized today that “I say someone in another time will remember us” is a reference to a Sappho poem!

[@robinhood9409]

This is beautiful. Well done Rhiannon.

[@user-jq4ee9zv9o]

This is my favorite poem ever

[@betina4257]

Used to cry while listening to this 2 years ago bc it was relatable. Now the girl I cried for is my girlfriend :)

[@caseycoyle8209]

I remember listing to this when I was 14 and crying

[@DaniMorganCharity]

She is incredible

[@lovebriny]

Everything. Yes each emotion, and word was as it should be. Thank You for this.

[@mckennakaszynski7412]

"You're not supposed to look at your friends like that" To the girl I loved years ago: you still hold my heart

[@CREATIVEART100]

I feel this and relate to this on an emotion level I can not even imagine. She is a marvelous poet and this had to be my favorite as I'm an artist and having the same experience (except in Highschool )

[@mileycass7]

I love her poems so much all of them are perfect, gives me chills

[@JanuaryLovesSelena]

“Watching your best friend dance with boys who will never be you” STORY OF MY LIFE

[@xNoToUrZx]

This is my favorite of her poems I listen to it everyday and have it memorized, it's so good I cry every time.

[@xNoToUrZx]

why am i watching this in class now im crying frick

[@chaoxiangalula4086]

This poem always makes me cry :(

[@ajkillem8850]

this has touched me so much I couldn't help but cry.

[@lexie6299]

I love how she is so powerful in this. Amazing!!

[@katemaguirebuck4486]

I watch this all the time but this is the first time I've probably understood it and this is what I love about Rhiannon's poetry

[@septunderground]

"You are not supposed to look at your friends like that" I am DELIGHTEDDD by this

[@hayleerose2988]

I really wanna do this for forensics but I know I'll never do it as good as her. she's so wonderful jfc

[@whateverlol2767]

I used to sob to this poem every day on the bus before school lol how times have changed. Still such a beautiful poem.

[@kiararose8896]

I found like 5 years ago and it’s still one of my favorite poems. I’m bisexual and have synesthesia, this hits different.

[@haleybingham8271]

This poem is just so amazing I can't put it in to words.

[@Yellowducky665]

It's been two years since the first time I watched this, but I cry almost every time I see this again. This poem has touched me so much, given me so much hope and love. Rhiannon McGavin, thank you for this poem. Its words and themes are so beautiful.

[@_emily.virginia_2707]

why is this so relatable.... and why do I have to cry at everything

[@huntermarcus750]

She gives me chills I connect with this so much

[@laurengracelove]

I love this. I've never been able to put the feeling to words and you did it perfectly. Bravo Rhiannon

[@bambiboo2369]

Reminds me of the character Natalie in the book Love Letters to the Dead. Couldn't have fit her more perfectly. Beautiful.

[@chasingthestarsxoxo1084]

Rhiannon is definitely my favorite poet there is and I look up to her😊

[@orangeaccount7535]

every time i watch this i think of a different girl just as beautiful

[@duravis0065]

I got chills four times through this. Wow.

[@amandawerner7637]

got goosebumps from this

[@miapinnick697]

everytime i need to ground myself, i take myself back here. seeing rhiannon's passion and emotion run free and watching her stand her ground just inspires me to be just as free and passionate in my craft one day. not only that but never before has something so accurately captured that immense overwhelming realisation as a young gay person finding their way in life that your heart knows others more than your brain knows itself

[@sneeze1647]

This was so beautiful and heart breaking it nearly brought me to tears.

[@bisexualantigone]

Oh she's so nervous... dear.. I know how it feels. You can do it, I love this very much

[@fairlyjamie644]

i just burst into tears

[@aylinitzel.]

I can’t tell you how hard this hits home. Falling in love with girl friends who will never love you, but constantly drawing portrait after portrait because she’s so beautiful.

[@spezria26]

This was actually so beautiful and amazing and.... ugh absolutely flawless and moving.

[@gracecondon6222]

i literally cry every time i watch this it's such a beautiful poem

[@Nicktotheleft]

Wow. Reminds me of someone I care about. Beautiful.

[@ambercastner8526]

she has such a powerful voice when saying poetry. she is amazing

[@cakeforbreakfast]

Beautiful.

[@Yellowducky665]

Holy shit?/ This gave me the chills. Best poem I've seen yet. Really touched me.

[@ginagia5936]

this is beautiful. she's my favorite.

[@ashlynnnfairchild3355]

I would love to listen to her talk about poetry and how she got into slam poetry and how she became such a beautiful poet

[@ajbee5881]

That was an amazing poem. I can relate to every bit of it.

[@chevvy427]

This is honestly my favorite poem.

[@dianegaile]

'remember your purpose poet, remember why you wrote it' 😭😍❤

[@lydiaspears4047]

drew me to tears

[@katschmitt1913]

I love her voice

[@sleepy.dreamer]

oh my gosh. this is the most beautiful thing. I relate to this so much.

[@bearfamous_]

She's breathtaking

[@Celiaisbored]

everytime im drunk at home i end up coming back to this poem. Makes me feel like sandra cisneros said, like I'm still 16 somewhere within the current version of myself - what a special work

[@stephaniemclaren9706]

I literally had goose bumps oh my goodness

[@andystanford7117]

Fantastic!

[@AffySkins]

So beautiful! I always get chills (I've watched this video and read the transcript so many times that I just have lost count). I love it as a whole, but some specific lines gave me an idea for a little shortfilm. I wish I could have permission to develop it further than just the idea of it.

[@allisonjohnson9772]

If you don't mind telling me, where did you find the transcript?

[@viviofalabasta4624]

I love these poems

[@sugar1princess]

Damn it!I'm crying

[@sleepless-cc4mo]

i love her voice it makes that more powerful

[@sleepless-cc4mo]

16 when I wrote that. Couldn’t imagine myself bringing a girl home, introducing them to my family or what a life could even look like. I’m twenty two now, I imagine our home together, she comes over often, I still hold her hand tighter when people look at us. I can imagine our life together.

[@xNoToUrZx]

This still makes me sob

[@hannahkline9104]

This poem hit me so hard.

[@maxcarter2974]

So many chills.

[@walkergirl02]

This is so powerful

[@madsterpiece]

this one. this one i watched once and her description of sunflowers and painting and swirls stuck in me. cant believe i found it again

[@isabelleviolet6872]

There are real tears im so

[@delaneydimarco8076]

Still my favorite spoken word poem

[@tangysadness5309]

i can relate to this so much oml

[@gcakes1]

GOOSEBUMPS OMG

[@tryingtobeeloquent]

I have no words. Wow.

[@lilianhennebryosborne8838]

holy fuck this took my breathe away, instantly my favourite of hers

[@woodsarthobbies6515]

This is a powerful poem.

[@xx_ratfucker321_xx2]

Favorite line I practice hours of shading trying to recreate the light in your eyes I see 2 meanings 1. The girl she’s shading for is depressed and she want to put light back in them 2 the girl has such beautiful light in her eyes and Ann knows she can’t try and make it herself